ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court hosted a full court reference on Friday to bid farewell to the outgoing Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, where lawyers and fellow judges shared highlights from his tenure.
Justice Isa was sworn in as the 29th CJP on September 17, 2023, during a symbolic ceremony attended by his wife, Sarina Isa, who stood beside him as he took the oath.
Justice Yahya Afridi, nominated by a newly formed Special Parliamentary Committee (SPC), is set to take his oath as the next CJP on Saturday.
The farewell event was live-streamed on the Supreme Court’s website and YouTube channel. Notably, Senior Puisne Judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, who would have been the next CJP if not for the 26th Amendment, could not attend due to his pilgrimage to Umrah with his family.
Due to the absence of Justice Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar, Justices Afridi and Aminuddin Khan occupied their usual seats next to the outgoing CJP. Justices Ayesha Malik, Athar Minallah, and Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan were also not present at the occasion.
A total of 16 judges, including two ad-hoc judges and two from the Federal Shariat Court, attended the event. Among them were Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, and Shahid Waheed.
In his speech, CJP-designate Afridi described Justice Isa as a “good, hearing human being,” while also cautioning about his “fury.”
“If you meet, greet, and treat Justice Faez Isa with a smile and humility, he will reciprocate with such gentle softness, likeliness, and care that it will leave you astonished. But mind you, if you in any way provoke him, or if I may say so poke the bear, then even hell hath no fury to match his scorn and only God may help and save you,” he said.
Justice Afridi expressed “mixed feelings” about bidding farewell to his predecessor, noting that he would “surely miss your sense of humor and abruptness,” while also being glad that Justice Isa was leaving in good health to enjoy his future endeavors.
He commended the outgoing top judge for his commitment to women’s rights, emphasizing that Justice Isa “would leave no bounds to ensure the preservation of their rights with the full might of the court.”
Justice Afridi also outlined the priorities and principles he intends to uphold as the new chief justice.
